U-M School of Nursing Dose of Discovery

How can AI better support people living with colorectal cancer? Researchers led by Dr. Yupawadee Kantabanlang reviewed 40 studies exploring AI tools that help predict outcomes, manage symptoms, and guide care. The review found most tools focus on forecasting medical risks, with fewer designed to support daily quality of life and emotional well-being.Publication: https://myumi.ch/8qbpG 

Many chlamydia and gonorrhea infections can occur outside traditional testing sites and may go undetected. This episode explores a scoping review examining approaches to extragenital STI screening and why expanding testing practices can improve detection, treatment, and prevention. Publication: https://myumi.ch/VVNmW

Parents using donor-assisted conception often wonder when and how to talk with their children about their origins. This episode explores research expanding the TELL Tool, a digital resource designed to help families navigate those conversations with confidence and support. Feature story: https://myumi.ch/w9GnW Publication: https://formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e79024

Dr. Stacciarini and colleagues outline a research-based vision for strengthening global health through nursing education, leadership, and faculty partnerships. Drawing on international collaborations and training programs, the article describes how nursing schools may better prepare students to address health challenges across diverse communities and settings.Accepted November 2025 and published in Nursing Outlook.

Marvin Schilt-Solberg and collaborators examined whether maternal psychological distress is linked to mental health and biological aging in Middle Eastern immigrant and refugee children. Using survey data and cheek swabs to measure telomere length, the study suggests maternal stress and early life experiences may be associated with long-term health outcomes in youth.International Journal of Social Psychiatry in 2025.

Dr. Hala Darwish and colleagues studied whether access to natural environments is associated with cognitive function among older Mexican Americans. The researchers found that higher exposure to green space was linked to better cognitive performance, particularly among women, after accounting for factors like age, education, and depression.Journal of Aging and Health.

Dr. Cynthia Arslanian-Engoren and Dr. Milo Engoren studied whether body mass index influences survival after sepsis. Analyzing data from more than 20,000 patients, they found BMI had only a minimal association with 90-day mortality. The findings suggest overall health and nutritional status matter more than body size alone.Published in Heart & Lung.

Dr. HaEun Lee and Dr. Jody Lori studied how low-cost strategies can reduce delays in emergency cesarean sections in Liberia. Using a mobile referral system and a midwife-led triage program, decision-to-incision times dropped from nearly three hours to under one hour.Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, October 2025.

Dr. Robert Knoerl studied how chemotherapy schedules affect peripheral neuropathy in young women receiving paclitaxel. While symptoms increased in both weekly and dose-dense treatments, women receiving dose-dense therapy reported more severe numbness and tingling, underscoring the need for early monitoring and symptom management.Published in the European Journal of Cancer Care, September 2025.

Dr. Rebecca Evans-Polce, Dr. Jessica Mongilio, Dr. Sean Esteban McCabe, and Dr. Phil Veliz from the U-M School of Nursing identified six patterns of nicotine, tobacco, and cannabis use among 8,000 youth and young adults.Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, November 2025.